Following a 25-save performance in his Edmonton Oilers debut—a 6-3 win over Toronto—Tristan Jarry prepares for a 'very weird' homecoming against his former Pittsburgh Penguins team on Tuesday, after 10 seasons there.
Tristan Jarry stood in a hotel ballroom near PPG Paints Arena on Monday, reflecting on a decade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Acquired by the Edmonton Oilers last Friday in the blockbuster trade for goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, forward Samuel Poulin, and a 2029 second-round pick (as covered previously), Jarry called the upcoming Tuesday matchup 'very weird.'
In his Oilers debut the day after the trade, Jarry made 25 saves in Edmonton's 6-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. 'Just talking to my parents and the rest of my family, that first game, it felt like my first game in the NHL all over again,' he said. He hopes for a positive reception from Penguins fans: 'I put my heart and soul into this team. I hope they understand that.'
Drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round (No. 44) of 2013, Jarry went 161-100-32 with a 2.74 GAA, .909 SV%, and 22 shutouts in 307 games (294 starts). He earned All-Star nods in 2020 and 2022 but had mixed playoff results (2-6, 3.00 GAA, .891 SV% in eight starts from 2020-22). This season pre-trade: 9-3-1, 2.66 GAA, .909 SV%, one shutout in 14 games. Last year was tougher (16-12-6, 3.12 GAA, .893 SV%) after a five-year, $26.875M extension, including AHL time and waivers.
The Penguins (14-8-9) seek playoffs after three misses; Skinner and Kulak, delayed by immigration, may debut Tuesday. For Edmonton (15-12-6), the deal bolsters goaltending post two Cup Final losses. Jarry wore his Penguins mask in his debut, unsure about changes for Pittsburgh.
